So, I actually did end up assembling the engine (mostly). I got the front cover and all the stuff under it (oil pump, counter weight, etc) installed. I haven't put the manifolds on yet since I want to have my injectors checked out before I install them.

I also decided to repaint the engine bay. I've found a spray paint color combo that matches better than what I had on there. I got the current paint mostly removed with the help of paint stripper, a wire brush, some rags, and lots of sweat. It's about 80% done.

I've also decided that I am going to swap brake setups between cars. The Texas car came with 4-lug hubs and single-piston front calipers, while the rusty car has 5-lug hubs and 4-piston front brakes (and vented rear rotors). Having 4-piston brakes will be nice, and having 5-lug hubs will open up many more wheel choices. I'll likely get a set of Crown Vic wheels eventually, like so:

In my opinion, they tend to look better on other cars than the original vehicle they were on. Sometimes I do not understand manufacturers choosing wheels for vehicles. Like the cheap, basic Scion hubcaps.. fugly.

It seems like I'm going backwards . I removed some more stuff from this car tonight. The entire interior from the belt line up, to be exact (everything else is gone already). The car officially has no interior at the moment. My reason for tearing it even further apart was to apply sound deadening to the underside of the roof, and the back of any large interior panels. I want no rattles. Hopefully I can get some more time to finish sound deadening the interior so I can start putting it back together.

Also, the paint in the engine bay is about 88% stripped, soon I'll be able to paint it and start putting it back together too.

I don't have a winter ride, but this car definitely won't be it. My dad and I will have to continue to split a car (slushbox Focus) until his Jeep gets put back together. It sucks, even if I finish this car early in the winter, I'll still have to wait until spring to drive it again. They salt the roads very heavily around here, and I flat-out refuse to expose this car to it after dealing with my rusty FC.

In my opinion, they tend to look better on other cars than the original vehicle they were on. Sometimes I do not understand manufacturers choosing wheels for vehicles. Like the cheap, basic Scion hubcaps.. fugly.

The wheel choice is the least of the worries on that car lol.But yeah, sometimes I don't understand why some of these cars end up with such ugly wheels.